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Canon 50d camera + 24-70mm lens

Hi there,

I'm in the market for a new camera. I currently have the Canon 350d. I was looking at the canon 50d and 7d. I have read good reviews on both. I don't need the video capability on the 7d and thought it wise to pay less for the 50d and buy a good lens i.e I'm looking at the 24-70mm canon lens to use almost always on the camera body. I have particular interest in portrait shots namely my 3 daughters. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Someone said the 24-70mm is not appropriate for the 50d and the 17-55mm f2.8 would be a better buy?

Someone said the 24-70mm is not appropriate for the 50d and the 17-55mm f2.8 would be a better buy?

Help please,

Thanks...

It's to do with the 1.6x crop factor on this camera. A 24-70mm lens on a 50D will be equivalent ~38-112mm on full frame cameras like the 5D. The 17-55 on a 50D is equivalent to 27-88mm, basically your standard zoom range.

It's not 'L' glass, but the image quality on the 17-55 is very very good, with a fast AF - which you'd expect for the price.

Whether it's appropriate or not comes down to what type of photography you favour, and whether this is going to be your sole lens. If you shoot portraits exclusively and this was your sole lens the 24-70 might be a better lens for you than the 17-55, and the converse if you shoot other things requiring something wider.

edit: My situation isn't all that different to yours - while my daughter is my most common subject, I also take it travelling so the wider lens is useful. You can see I went with the 17-55.